🙂A single person spends $1,727 per month in Karlskrona vs $2,081 in Malmo, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,601 per month in Karlskrona vs $3,224 in Malmo, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,475 per month in Karlskrona vs $4,368 in Malmo, rent included.
🙂Karlskrona is about 17% cheaper than Malmo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Karlskrona and Malmo sit above the global median – Karlskrona by 29%, Malmo by 56%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.17SEK 127
$13.74SEK 133
-4.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5SEK 652
$83.5SEK 807
-19.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.28SEK 89.7
$12.74SEK 123
-27.16%
Cappuccino
$3.94SEK 38.10
$5.15SEK 49.73
-23.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45SEK 14.04
$2.68SEK 25.92
-45.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51SEK 24.29
$2.10SEK 20.29
19.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.47SEK 72.2
$7.81SEK 75.5
-4.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.38SEK 52.0
$8.01SEK 77.4
-32.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.52SEK 14.67
$1.73SEK 16.76
-12.14%
White Bread(500g)
$2.82SEK 27.24
$3.08SEK 29.73
-8.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.00SEK 38.63
$3.48SEK 33.67
14.94%
Eggs
$3.94SEK 38.05
$4.53SEK 43.80
-13.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.60SEK 112
$12.41SEK 120
-6.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.68SEK 113
$13.01SEK 126
-10.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.98SEK 154
$26.83SEK 259
-40.44%
Apples(1kg)
$3.11SEK 30.03
$3.40SEK 32.84
-8.53%
Banana(1kg)
$2.53SEK 24.46
$2.94SEK 28.43
-13.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.04SEK 29.36
$3.29SEK 31.83
-7.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.68SEK 45.24
$4.83SEK 46.69
-3.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.50SEK 14.48
$1.87SEK 18.10
-19.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.56SEK 15.06
$1.94SEK 18.76
-19.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.21SEK 21.34
$2.55SEK 24.68
-13.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47SEK 14.17
$1.34SEK 13.00
9.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.16SEK 69.2
$7.88SEK 76.2
-9.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.85SEK 124
$11.67SEK 113
10.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02SEK 19.55
$2.40SEK 23.25
-15.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79SEK 17.30
$2.73SEK 26.39
-34.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.93SEK 28.35
$3.46SEK 33.40
-15.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.2SEK 630
$71.0SEK 686
-8.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.39SEK 139
$6.76SEK 65.3
112.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59SEK 15.36
$2.64SEK 25.49
-39.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.13SEK 204
$57.1SEK 552
-62.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.94SEK 18.74
$1.90SEK 18.41
2.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0KSEK 319.2K
$33.0KSEK 318.6K
0.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5KSEK 333.4K
$33.9KSEK 328.1K
1.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.1SEK 513
$155SEK 1,496
-65.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.35SEK 274
$29.60SEK 286
-4.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.07SEK 358
$39.55SEK 382
-6.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.47SEK 430
$39.29SEK 380
13.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.19SEK 234
$23.47SEK 227
3.07%
Cinema Ticket
$17.06SEK 165
$17.81SEK 172
-4.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$142SEK 1,375
$157SEK 1,520
-9.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$745SEK 7,205
$4,884SEK 47.2K
-84.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104SEK 1,002
$105SEK 1,013
-1.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.05SEK 204
$45.70SEK 442
-53.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.5SEK 807
$124SEK 1,199
-32.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155SEK 1,498
$166SEK 1,607
-6.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$705SEK 6,813
$916SEK 8,856
-23.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$692SEK 6,688
$791SEK 7,642
-12.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,146SEK 11.1K
$1,702SEK 16.4K
-32.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$998SEK 9,647
$1,378SEK 13.3K
-27.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,021SEK 29.2K
$4,179SEK 40.4K
-27.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,550SEK 24.6K
$3,318SEK 32.1K
-23.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,501SEK 24.2K
$3,148SEK 30.4K
-20.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.7
4.86
-3.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Karlskrona: July 13, 2026
Last update for Malmo: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $705 in Karlskrona versus $916 in Malmo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 26% higher in Malmo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Karlskrona versus $83.0 in Malmo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $356 vs $412 – making Karlskrona the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Karlskrona vs Malmo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Malmo cheaper than Karlskrona?
Yes – Malmo is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,591 per month in Karlskrona and $3,121 in Malmo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Karlskrona, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Karlskrona or in Malmo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Karlskrona and $83.0 in Malmo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Karlskrona and in Malmo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,727 in Karlskrona and $2,081 in Malmo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Karlskrona or in Malmo?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Karlskrona, where all-in costs run around $1,727, than in Malmo at $2,081. In Karlskrona it covers expenses comfortably, while in Malmo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Karlskrona or Malmo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Karlskrona – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Karlskrona or Malmo?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Karlskrona. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Malmo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Karlskrona vs other spots: cost of living compared